New Castle County, Delaware

County Distress Index: Elevated · 61.7 | 578,592 people · 2nd most distressed in Delaware
American Default Research

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New Castle County, DE registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 61.7 — 840th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Housing Cost Burden, where a large share of households spend more than 30% of income on housing. Within Delaware, it ranks 2nd of 3 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 5 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. New Castle County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 76.2 — worse than roughly 76% of U.S. counties.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 76.2
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 77
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 78
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 67
Homeownership Rate 76
Consumer Credit Distress 64.0
Debt in Collections 65
Medical Debt 83
Auto Loan Delinquency 69
Credit Card Delinquency 65
Uninsured Rate 26
Subprime Credit Population 59
Legal Distress 61.9
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 62
Economic Vitality 58.0
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 66
Rent-to-Income Ratio 80
Business Formation Rate 1
House Price Change (YoY) 61
Structural Poverty 32.4
Unemployment Rate 82
Poverty Rate 28
Income vs. State Median 27
Child Poverty Rate 33
Disability Rate 23
Transfer Income Dependency 19

Scores are percentile-based: 50 = national median, higher = more distressed.

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. New Castle County
New Castle County, DE 61.7 Elevated —
Kent County, DE 71.4 Serious +9.7
Salem County, NJ 64.8 Elevated +3.1
Cecil County, MD 56.3 Elevated -5.4
Delaware County, PA 55.2 Elevated -6.5
Gloucester County, NJ 53.0 Elevated -8.7
Kent County, MD 46.4 Normal -15.3
Chester County, PA 28.3 Healthy -33.3

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. New Castle County
Jefferson County, KY 61.7 Elevated +0.0
Tulsa County, OK 61.8 Elevated +0.1
St. Clair County, IL 61.5 Elevated -0.2
Hudson County, NJ 61.3 Elevated -0.4
Luzerne County, PA 62.1 Elevated +0.4

Download Data

Export all distress indicators for New Castle County as a CSV file.

Find Help in New Castle County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near New Castle County.

CCCS OF DELAWARE VALLEY, DBA CLARIFI
WILMINGTON
800-989-2227 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingPre-PurchaseRental Help
HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES OF NORTHERN DELAWARE, INC.
Wilmington
302-429-0794
Foreclosure PreventionMortgage HelpFinancial CounselingFinancial Counseling
INTERFAITH COMMUNITY HOUSING OF DELAWARE
Wilmington
302-652-3991
Foreclosure PreventionPre-PurchaseHomebuyer Education
NEIGHBORGOOD PARTNERS - NEWARK BRANCH
NEWARK
302-678-9400 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingHome Improvement/RehabPost-Purchase
NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSE, INCORPORATED
Wilmington
302-658-5404 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingFinancial CounselingFair Housing

See all counselors in Delaware →

Find an Attorney

Delaware State Bar Association Lawyer Referral offers a lawyer referral service for bankruptcy, foreclosure defense, and consumer rights.

Delaware State Bar Association Lawyer Referral 302-658-5279

Free Legal Aid

Legal aid organizations serving New Castle County residents at no cost.

Community Legal Aid Society, Inc. (CLASI) 302-575-0660
Delaware Volunteer Legal Services (DVLS) 302-478-8680
Legal Services Corporation of Delaware 302-575-0408

American Default Research does not endorse, rate, or rank any provider. Verify attorney credentials with your state bar.

Need legal help? Find a foreclosure defense attorney in Delaware →

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for New Castle County, Delaware?

    New Castle County has a County Distress Index score of 61.7 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 840th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 2nd in Delaware out of 3 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in New Castle County?

    The primary driver of distress in New Castle County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 76.2 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does New Castle County compare to neighboring counties?

    New Castle County (61.7) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Kent County, DE (71.4); Salem County, NJ (64.8); Cecil County, MD (56.3).

  • How is the County Distress Index calculated?

    The County Distress Index uses PCA-weighted percentile scoring across five statistically derived factors: Consumer Credit Distress (47.5%), Housing Cost Burden (22.3%), Structural Poverty (13.6%), Economic Vitality (9.2%), and Legal Distress (7.4%). Each county's indicators are ranked against all 3,144 U.S. counties. A score of 50 means the county is at the national median; higher scores indicate greater distress.

  • How often is the CDI updated?

    Annually, aligned to Census American Community Survey and Urban Institute Debt in America release windows — the slowest-moving source inputs. Between annual refreshes, faster-cadence indicators (BLS unemployment, QCEW wages) may drive light mid-year updates if a specific component moves meaningfully. Current data compiled April 14, 2026; next full refresh early 2027.

  • What does the Elevated zone mean?

    The CDI divides counties into five zones: Healthy (below 46), Normal (46–55), Elevated (55–71), Serious (71–86), and Crisis (86 and above). New Castle County's score of 61.7 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

  • What data sources power New Castle County's CDI score?

    New Castle County's CDI score draws on Urban Institute Debt in America (Equifax credit-bureau panel), U.S. Census Bureau (American Community Survey 5-year, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates), Bureau of Labor Statistics (LAUS, QCEW), U.S. Courts Administrative Office (F-5A bankruptcy filings), and HUD Fair Market Rents. Every number on this page traces to one of these public sources.

  • What is the population of New Castle County?

    New Castle County, Delaware has a population of approximately 578,592 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a large county.